Automatic sprinkler



May 13, 1924. 1,493,555

A. J. LOEPSINGE R AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26 1919 IIII/IIII/l/I/IIII/II/Ill,

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 1924.

ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER, OF EDG-EWOOD, RHODE ISLAND.

. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed December 26, 1919. Serial No. 347,468.

a gas which is ordinarily carbon dioxide, by

union of two liquids. The liquids may be respectively acid and alkali, and if desired one may carry some material such as Peruvian soap bark which causes the free formation of bubbles with relatively tough film,

i is set olf by opposed check valves arranged according to practices already well known. In the use of such a system with automatic sprinklers it is desirable that the liquids should meet at the sprinkler. Sprinklers have been devised in which the sprinkler valve has two valve faces and two seats, one

" controlling each liquid, but there are difficulties and objections-involved in such. It is a purpose of thepresent invention to provide means by which a single simple sprinkler of the ordinary type with one valve seat, as used for water, can operate to dis chargethe mixed liquids with such foam as is formed as a result of their mixture at the sprinkler. The invention is illustrated as it finay be applied to a dry pipe system in which the two systems of distributing pipes respectively are each normally filled with.

air at. a pressure below'that at which the liquids themselves are held in their respec tive supply chambers and pipes. When a sprinkler is opened by heat, the air escapes and the dry pipe valves automatically admit the liquids into their distributing pipes. The liquids in these pipes come together at every sprinkler, ready to discharge in case it should open. The resulting chemical reaction will be premature if the sprinkler does not open: And if one liquid should arrive at the sprinkler before the other, and flow, by. it into the pipe of the other liquid the meeting would occur atsome indeterminate place where there is nosprinkler. In that case there might be undesirable genera- ,tion of gas and pressure at various spots through the system, and might be at some sprinklers one liquid or the other, but not both. It is therefore among the objects of the present invention both to provide for mixing at each sprinkler, for discharge when the sprinkler is open, and to prevent mixing thereat when it is closed, and to prevent the liquids from meeting except at the sprinklers. These ends are attained by providing at each sprinkler station a chamber having an inlet from each of thetwo liquid systems, and whose outlet is closed by the sprinkler, each entrance having a check valve which normally tends to close itself independently of the effect of fluid flow. It is another object to accomplish the result by a simple and inexpensive device, in a structural and manufacturing sense.

In the embodiment illustrated there is a cross connection between the pipes carrying the separate liquids; and a section of this to be seatedby gravity. The space between tapped to receive a single orifice sprinkler of any suitable or ordinary type. \Vhen the sprinkler opens, in service, the two liquids come together in the chamber and the re action between them aids in forcing them and the products of. their reaction out through the sprinkler. If a particular sprinkler does not open, but some other sprinkler opens, so that air of the system escapes, the two liquids will likewise meet at each cross connection between their respective systems of distributing pipes. If they, reach an unopened head simultaneously, the slight reaction which occurs gencrates gas which makes pressure in the chamber and so closes both check valves, thus preventing further inflow of either liquid so long as the sprinklerremains closed; and preventing further reaction, beyond what may occur within the chamber. If one liquid reaches the sprinkler before the other, it may fill so much of the chamber as remains unfilled. by pocketed air, but is prevented from passing into the other pipe bythe check valve thereof. The second liquid arriving later at that check valve is prevented from opening it, so as to pass in any considerable body, by the approximate balance between its pressure and that of the liquid which first arrived, and by the action of gravity which in this condition of equilibrium' of pressures exerts a balance of power that holds the check valve closed. However if a little passes into the chamber on the first rush, the reaction which then 00 curs generates gas which increases the pressure in the chamber over the hydrostatic pressure, and holds both check valves tightly closed. In result therefore the invention provides a mixing chamber within the system so that the fluids meet and issue from a single orifice, when the sprinkler is open; and meet without objectionable mixing if the sprinkler is closed; or if a small amount of mixing occurs in the latter case, that takes place in the closed chamber and the mixing which does thus occur is effective to prevent further mixing. I

The apparatus and ingredients mentioned for embodying the invention are merely illustrative, as variations may be made in many respects. It is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patent-able novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure represents in side elevation a medial section through a sprinkler and adjacent parts in apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates an automatic sprinkler which may be of any ordinary or suitable type. as used for water, closing an orifice 11 in fire extinguishing apparatus installed in a building, comprising two dry pipe distribution systems, one indicated in the drawings by the pipe 12, and the other by the pipe 13; one carrying a liquid such as an acid, and the other a liquid such as an alkali, which when mixed generate carbonic acid gas. These may be arranged to produce foam according to well known methods; or other liquids may be used in place of them. The sprinkler is set in a chamber 14; to which liquid in the pipe 12 has access through a check valve 15, and to which liquid in pipe 13 has access through a 'check valve 16, each valve being arranged to be closed normally by gravity and having a substantial weight to make the force of gravity controlling even in the presence of some degree of hydrostatic pressure opposing it.. As illustrated these valves are pivoted respectively at 15 and 16 although a spring or other equivalent method of closure might be substituted, and the seats 25 and 26 respectively for these valves are set at an angle of about 45. Openings 20 closed by plugs are provided for access to the valves;

and an outlet 21 for drainage, normally closed, may also be, provided.

In operation the pipes 12 and 13 each normally contain only air, as does the chant ber 14. Upon the automatic opening of the sprinkler 10 under abnormal heat, each pipe loses its contained air, and by the action of well knownapparatus not shown, such as a dry pipe valve, each pipe receives, a supply of its particular liquid. As discharge occurs through the outlet 11 these liquids will meet in the chamber 1%. Chemical reaction follows and their expulsion with increased force by the gases thus generated. If however the sprinkler seen in the drawing remains closed, and it is the openlng of some other sprinkler which has occasioned the escape of air and substitution of liquids in the pipes 12 and 13, that liquid which arrives first at the particular sprinkler seen in the drawing will readily pass its own check valve, which may be assumed to be valve 15, and owing to its higher pressure will enter the chamber 1 1 to some extent at least, but will be stopped by the check valve 16 from passing on into the pipe 13. The other liquid, arriving later at valve 16 through pipe 13, will have hydrostatic pressure no greater than that. of the first liquid, because the system, by devices not shown, ordinarily makes the pressure equal. The weight of the valve therefore will be sufiicient to maintain it closed, keeping the liquids apart and preventing chemical reaction. If however, the liquid arriving through pipe 13 should come with sufficient impetus to open the valve 16 against the air-cushion within, the reaction which follows would be within the chamber; and the gas pressure generated thereby would result in forcing both check valves more firmly on their seats, so that no reac tion would occur beyond that due to the liquid within the chamber.

Meanwhile both liquids are at the sprinkler ready to mix and discharge if and when that sprinkler head shall open, and are controlled and discharged by a single sprinkler it is desired to control the mixing of more than two.

I claim as my invention:

1. In fire extinguishing apparatus the combination of pipes for supplying two liquids, a mixing chamber, and an automatic heat-controlled valve discharging therefrom; the chamber being normally filled with air and connected for access for contents of both of said pipes to it when said automatic valve is closed and provided with automatic means preventing the. pas sage of contents of either pipe through said chamber into the other pipe.

2. The combination, with dry pipes for supplying two liquids, of a mixing chamber fed by both pipes, an automatic heat-controlled single-seated valve closure for discharge, and means whereby the liquid which first arrives at the mixing chamber automatically holds the same closed against endischarge valve remains closed.

3. The combination, with. pipes for supplying two liquids, of a mixing chamber fed by both pipes, check valves at the entrance of each pipe into the chamber preventing passage of chamber contents into either pipe, and an automatic heat-controlled valve for discharge from the chamber.

4. The combination, with pipes for supplying two liquids, of a mixing chamber fed by both pipes, self closing check valves at the entrance of each pipe into the chamber preventing passage of chamber contents into either pipe, and an automatic heatcontrolled valve for discharge from the chamber.

5. The combination with pipes for supplying two liquids, of a mixingchamber fed by both pipes, an automatic heat-controlled valve for discharge from the chamber, and self closing check valves located close to the discharge valve, whereby the mutual contact of the liquids is restricted to the space in immediate proximity to the discharge valve.

6. In a sprinkler system, a method of preventing premature mixing of chemically reacting liquids present at a closed sprinkler, comprising the admission of small portions of each liquid to a closed chamber having self closing inlet check valves, thereby producing a preliminary minor reaction generating pressure; and by said pressure maintaining the inlets closed.

7. A sprinkler for automatic fire extin-- guishing apparatus, comprising a discharge valve having heat controlled closure in combination with a small casing forming a union between supply pipes for liquids and the discharge passage; said casing constituting a chamber for mixture and reaction of the liquid fluids, and having a check valve between the chamber and each of the supply pipes; the said chamber and supply pipes being ordinarily filled with air, and the said check valves preventing liquid when released from rushing from either pipe into the other.

Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this 20th day of December, 1919.

ALBERT J. LOEPSINGER. 

